The Italian word luogotenente (Italian: [ˌlwɔɡoteˈnɛnte]; plural luogotenenti) is an etymological parallel to lieutenant, deriving from the Latin locum tenens "holding a place", i.e. someone who fills a position instead of another, as a substitute or deputy.
A luogotenente generally is a high-ranking individual in a monarchy who either is designated to assume royal powers up to and including the regency of the kingdom in the event of the absence of the monarch, or is designated to exercise monarchical powers in a particular territory of the kingdom under the overall authority of the monarch. Typically, the office held by a luogotenente is the lieutenenancy of the king or lieutenancy of the kingdom and the title of a person exercising the authority of a lieutenancy has included king's lieutenant, lieutenant general (not to be confused with the military rank of lieutenant general), and lieutenant general of the kingdom, but many variations many variations in the title of the office and of the officeholder have existed.
Luogotenente also has had other uses, serving as a military or administrative title in some contexts.
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